The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will be holding several public meetings on environmental issues and concerns regarding NAFTA provisions allowing Mexican domiciled trucks and buses to operate in the U.S.

In 2001, FMCSA proposed proc edures for monitoring the safety of Mexican carriers who want to operate beyond the currently allowed commercial zones. Implementation was put on hold after a court ruled that FMCSA should have conducted a more extensive analysis of the environmental impacts of the regulations.
Now the FMCSA is in the process of preparing an analysis of the environmental impacts to include a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It also will include an analysis of specific air quality impacts or General Conformity Evaluation pursuant to the Clean Air Act of 1990.
The purpose of these meetings is to obtain the public's input on the potential range or scope of environmental impacts and alternatives that should be considered. The meeting dates and addresses are as follows:

El Paso -- Oct. 21, 7-9 p.m.; Franklin High School, 900 N. Resler Drive, El Paso, Texas (915) 832-6600.

Phoenix -- Oct. 21, 7-9 p.m.; Wyndham Phoenix Hotel, 50 E. Adams Street, Phoenix, Ariz. (602) 333-0000.

San Diego -- Oct. 22, 7-9 p.m.; San Diego Concourse, 202 C Street, San Diego, Calif. (619) 525-5000.

Nogales -- Oct. 22,7-9 p.m.; Santa Cruz County Complex, 2150 N. Congress Drive, Nogales, Ariz. (520) 375-7812.

Los Angeles -- Oct. 23,7-9 p.m.; Los Angeles Convention Center; 1201 S. Figueroa Street; Los Angeles, Calif. (213) 741-1151.

Las Cruces -- Oct. 27, 7-9 p.m.; New Mexico State University, Corbett Center Student Union; Las Cruces, N.M. (505) 646-3049.

Laredo -- Oct. 27, 7-9 p.m.; Texas A&M International University, 5201 University Blvd., Laredo, Texas (956) 326-2001.

Houston -- Oct. 28, 7-9 p.m.; Reliant Arena; One Reliant Park, Houston, Texas (800) 776-4995.

Washington, D.C. -- Oct. 30, 2-4 p.m.; Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel; 480 L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, D.C. (202) 484-1000.

Persons wanting to speak at a public meeting are encouraged to pre-register by calling FMCSA's toll-free hotline at (800) 288-5634 and leave their name, telephone number, the name of any group, business, or agency affiliation, if applicable, and the date and location of the meeting at which they wish to speak.
The deadline for pre-registration for all meetings is Oct. 20, 2003.
Comments may also be submitted to FMCSA via the project web site, www.fmcsa.dot.gov/NAFTAEIS, e-mailed to NAFTAEIS@fmcsa.dot.gov, faxed to (800) 260-9702, or mailed to NAFTA EIS, P.O. Box 4050, Merrifield, VA 22116-4050. The deadline is Nov. 7, 2003.